I stood firmly, staring at the entity that had formed before me from the shadows. It wasn't a monster like the enemies I had faced before, but it wasn't human either. Its energy was different—deep, as if it had been rooted in this place for centuries. I felt a strange pressure in the air, as if the very atmosphere had grown heavier.
[Warning! The detected entity bears an energy signature from ancient times. Caution is advised.]
The system's warning was clear, but it told me nothing I hadn't already sensed. I didn't wait long—I gathered my energy in my hands, ready for any attack that might come.
And suddenly, it moved.
In an instant, it disappeared from its place and reappeared directly in front of me, its shadow-formed arm swinging toward me at a speed beyond expectation. I barely managed to dodge the strike, but even so, I felt a tremendous force shaking the ground beneath me.
I leaped backward, trying to create some distance between us, but the entity didn't give me the chance. It moved swiftly, launching a series of relentless attacks that forced me to stay on the defensive. Each punch carried immense energy, and if even one landed directly, I wasn't sure if I would survive it.
Activating the New Power
I realized I couldn't keep dodging forever. If I wanted to survive, I had to fight seriously.
[Alert! New ability available: "Energy Surge." Would you like to activate it?]
I didn't waste any time. "Yes!"
A massive force erupted within me, flowing through my muscles like blazing fire. My senses sharpened, and my movements became noticeably faster. In the next moment, I found myself directly in front of the entity, my fist charged with this newfound energy.
I delivered a direct punch to its chest, but it didn't pass through as I had expected. The shadows around it scattered for a moment, but it didn't vanish. On the contrary, I felt as if I had struck something solid within its dark form.
Seizing the opportunity, I unleashed a flurry of attacks, using my new energy to deliver rapid and powerful strikes. With each blow, the shadows dispersed, only to quickly reform—this entity wasn't just a creature of darkness; it was something deeper.
But with each hit, I started to notice something… it was weakening.
The End and the Awaited Reward
After a series of focused attacks, a crack appeared in its dark body, and energy began to slowly seep out. Finally, with one last strike, a bright flash erupted, and its form shattered into tiny fragments of shadow that dissipated into the air.
I dropped to my knees, breathing heavily. This battle had been unlike any before—more difficult, more draining. But, as expected…
[Congratulations! You have defeated the "Ancient Guardian."]
[Rewards obtained:]
• +50 Energy Points
• New Ability: "Eye of Insight" (Reveals enemy weak points)
• Artifact: "Shard of the Ancient Shadow" (Contains an unknown energy)
I stared at the notifications in front of me, feeling a wave of satisfaction. Finally, I had earned real rewards to make up for this brutal fight.
Slowly, I stood up and picked up the artifact. It was cold, pulsing with a mysterious energy I couldn't yet identify. But I knew one thing for certain…
This wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning of uncovering the secrets buried in this place.